Kimkim Trip Reviews

The guides were all very friendly and informative. The chauffeurs were all on time and very helpful aswell."

We are very glad that we used kimkim for our first time to Portugal! kimkim connected us to João, and kimkim's platform made it very easy to communicate with him as he assisted and advised on the itinerary for our trip. João was fantastic - very prompt in answering our many questions, provided options to accommodate our specific requests, and was all around super pleasant and friendly. We also didn't feel like he gave us any pressure, which was really appreciated.

After we decided to go with kimkim, we trusted João to arrange and book everything for us. He made everything super easy! While we were in the country, João set up a WhatsApp chat and sent daily check-ins with the plans for the next day. It was reassuring to know we always had a lifeline in case there were any issues (and there really weren't any - except for rare bad weather which is NOT in their control of course!). João's network of private transportation and guides were top notch - everyone was prompt, super friendly, knowledgeable, and very willing to share their personal/local experiences and opinions. That really made a huge difference in terms of our overall experience. Special shout out to our drivers - André, Ivo, Ricardo, and Fernando!

We loved our Portugal trip and went everywhere we wanted to go: Lisbon/Sintra, Porto, Douro Valley, and the Algarve. We highly recommend João and his team without hesitation!

A comment about the price - yes, you will probably pay more with kimkim than if you were to book everything on your own, but we felt it was worth it for the convenience, flexibility for 100% customization, level of service, and the high quality of the experiences.

We had looked at several travel companies and selected KimKim based on price and responsiveness. However, in the end we had to do a lot of research and suggest unique experiences that better fit with who we are and the variety we were looking for. We bsed some of our ideas from other sample itineraries we found, passed them along. You need to take the time to get to know your customers and take the time to do research on a variety of options. don't just give us one itinerary that looks finalized. Give us ideas in several locations. It ended up being ALOT of work to plan. The execution and service was great however.

Thoroughly enjoyed our family adventure to Colombia, Had several wonderful guides, Juan Pablo, Gabriel, and Carlos and local driver (Francisco , who spoke excellent English) who not only shared their expertise about their country, but offered engaging conversation on various topics, and provided additional adult support, by going on the amusement rides at Parque del Cafe with the children or assisting in hands on activities such as basket weaving, chocolate making. Colombia is a beautiful country with many diverse activities for school age children to participate in. Hotel accommodations were comfortable and conveniently located in safe walkable areas. If you are looking for a destination that has a lot to offer , and is less than a 5 hr flight from the US East Coast, with minimal time difference, Consider visiting Colombia

Tina was awesome at answering questions and with very responses! Great customer service. All of our drivers were on time and friendly. Our excursions were great! Thailand is such a beautiful country with wonderful people. We especially loved the Tree House Villa and The Shores at Katathani. Amazing properties. The Tree House stands out because of the amazing service and amenities. We plan to return to this property in the future. The only snafu I’m is that we were placed on the 2nd floor at the Panvaree The Greener Floating Bungalows . We had been specific about wanting a one-the-water room. This was disappointing since staying in a floating bungalow was something we were really looking forward to experiencing. Be very specific when working and ask for confirmation that you have the room that you expect to have. Tina suggested to Age Resturant as our last meal in Thailand before going to the airport and it was wonderful! Lovely view and great food. Our trip was the perfect blend of sight seeing and relaxation. We plan to return to this wonderful country sometime in the future.

Francisco was just absolutely amazing in helping me plan this trip. he was patient with all my changing requests, worked within my budgets. most importantly, he was always honest and that gives me the confidence to refer him to all my friends. His excursion choices were well thought out, with good companies. he went over and above his brief to help me with flight bookings that were not in his purview. he was always available on whatsapp, email. and responded quickly. my only regret is we could not meet. As he said, to meet, we have to now plan another visit to South America soon!
Thank you for everything

We engaged with KimKim because of a very positive experience to Spain last year Frances, one of the traveler had. We expected the KimKim standard to carry through.

This is my first experience in engaging an agent for a customized itinerary. Both of us had visited Japan before. We loved the country and was hoping to get a good glimpse of the cherry blossoms, thus a repeat itinerary was acceptable, while we were also hoping to see new things.

Shona as an agent was efficient in setting up an itinerary and responsive to our questions and requests during the month long planning. We were hoping for a more comfortable tour but amenable to public transportation even though we indicated excessive walking can be an issue. We were told that private cars would not be an option because of high season demand, even though some guides commented it was a surprise that we did not have a car.

Our transfers to and from hotels were handled well. The drivers were punctual and efficient. Our transportation via local subways and trains much less so, especially when some guides did not seem to be very familiar with the system. There were excessive walking, as well as time spent in figuring out the proper trains to take, acquiring tickets, or finding escalators/elevators. It was exhausting in a busy city. The situation was rectified on the last three days in Osaka when we were given taxi service to destinations. The Osaka experience was much more pleasant without the hassle of public transportation.

We had 6 guides during this trip. In general, I find the local guides to be average. Most of them were guides to take us from one destination to another, without depth of knowledge of the place. Their English language skills were mostly sub-par. I wonder about their qualifications of being tour guides than just being local. Learning about their personal background stories were more interesting than the knowledge I gained about the places from them. They were all friendly and polite. Some tried harder than others.

The hotels were ok. They all offer great breakfast buffet. The New Orani Hotel in Osaka was the best in terms of amenities and space, exactly the kind 5-star hotel we were asking for.

Regarding the logistics during the trip. I was not happy with the communication between the central office and the local guides. We had questions from a guide asking what hotel we were at in Tokyo, we had to tell another guide in Kyoto our new hotel, and one guide actually went to the wrong hotel because of the change which costed half the morning. That type of information should be communicated properly from the office.

We had to change hotel las minute in Kyoto, which had costed us substantially extra to secure during initial booking. We looked forward to staying in that 5-star hotel in a nice city. We ended up having to change hotel at the last minute because of a mix-up in reservation. Shona did well to get us a hotel quickly but there was a lot of anxiety and it was very disappointing. Shona was on top of things during our trip and responded quickly to the needs and other issues we encountered. She should be commended for her attention and willingness to compensate for shortfalls.

All in all, Japan is a very beautiful country with friendly people and a lot to offer. I would definitely consider visiting again but I would scrutinize the details more carefully to assure my experience meets my expectation.

Hotel Reviews

HOTEL MYSTAYS PREMIER Akasaka

Nice location. Comfortable bed and conveniently located. 7/11 store in basement and availability of free laundry are nice amenities. Buffet breakfast is very good. Room is a little cramped. Enough chairs to sit but almost no space to move around.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel New Otani Osaka

Osaka

Very nice hotel of 5-star quality. The room is spacious with chairs, coffee table and desk. The beds are comfortable. The buffet breakfast is excellent with high quality and variety of both western and Japanese food. The hotel lobby is linked to high end shops - fun to browse. Its location is right across from the river with a bridge to the Osaka Castle. Very pleasant walk.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Spot Early-Blooming Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Tokyo

Public transportation to the city sights quite hectic. We did not follow our exact original itinerary. Our customized itinerary allowed us a visit to the Fish Market, which is interesting with great seafood. The visit to the bottom of the Tokyo Tower was a waste of time and effort, especially since we were not scheduled to go up.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was ok to start the trip, but seemed to have lost interest in the afternoon and was in a hurry to finish up and get us back to hotel. He was walking at least 1/2 block in front of us :(

Transport

Take taxi or use private car to save time and energy.

Full Day Mt. Fuji with Lake Kawaguchiko Cruise and Oshino Hakkai

Tokyo

Mt Fugi boat ride on Lake Kawaguchiko was beautiful with perfect weather. Oshino Hakkai Village was very scenic with the small ponds. Great grilled fish.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Kyoto City Tour with Fushimi Inari-Taisha

Kyoto

The touring of the various sites were good, very crowded in most places because of the high cherry blossom season. Beautiful sites, streets with interesting shops. Kyoto never disappoints.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Sagano Scenic Railway

Kyoto

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is amazing. The boat ride was also very enjoyable. The scenery was captivating, just wish for more cherry blossoms. The Sagano Railway was supposed to be a highlight, but the guide did not know our booking was for a certain time and location. We ended up in the wrong station, and walked through the bamboo grove twice to the right station.. Also with advanced booking and assigned seating, the tour company should be aware of the direction of the train and booked us on the scenic side (water side). We were not able to enjoy the scenic water front, a bit disappointed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Nara

Nara

It was a long ride from Kyoto. We started late due to meeting location mixup. The guide was not given our hotel. BY the time we get to Nara, it was well past noon. Even the deer were full and not interested in our food. Nara is a nice city with long history thus the temples were all interesting. The guide tried hard and did her homework, but a more knowledgable guide might be able to give us more information. We were short of time and did not make it up the hill to see the city of Nara. IT was a long day as we were also heading to Osaka the same evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day City Tour with Osaka Castle

Japan

Even though it was a rainy day, I enjoyed the castle visit, the exhibit was nicely done. The city museum was also fun to visit, especially indoors on a rainy day. The Umeda Building has amazing architecture. Very enjoyable. The guide was not experienced, since she was very new, but she conducted herself well. Her English was also the best among the guides we had. The Shinsaibashi was very crowded, as expected. It was probably not the best option to put at the end of a long rainy day. We had good kobe beef dinner there though. We used taxi service for the day. Much better than negotiating subways. We were also just in town, so not very tiring.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

taxi service.

One Day Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Tour (Round Trip From Osaka)

Japan

Miyajima Island is beautiful. It has interesting touristy sights, eats and scenery, but not crowded. I was able to enjoy the sights and scenes without much anxiety. Hiroshima is a sobering experience. The Memorial and the Museum were all well done. I am glad I finally get to visit the site of such an important event in human history. The day was not rushed. Very enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Oysters!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vaseem was an incredible resource for our trip. As a busy working mom, I did not have the time to research, plan and book activities for our Spring Break trip to France . . . Finding KimKim and their team of experts solved all my problems! And, they curated a more amazing trip than I ever could. He also planned a few days in the south of France to a super fun area I would have never thought to explore. It was a welcome break from the busy cities we explored on the front end of the trip. I highly recommend Vaseem & KimKim!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel du Jeu de Paume

Paris

The Hotel Jeu de Paume was exquisite! It's in the perfect central location for all fun activities. Furthermore Terry at the front desk had incredible restaurant recommendations. We had a great 2 story room with 2 bathrooms which was a good fit for our family of 4.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central! Close to metro stops and all the things we want to see.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel de l'Amphithéâtre

This hotel is difficult to get to if you have a car. You have to park in the central parking and walk with your bags. The breakfast was lovely! Our room was small for 4 people, but the staff was great overall.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Discovery tour of Paris by vintage car

Paris

The discovery tour was so fun - a great way to see all of Paris in a mere 2 hours. The guides were fairly good, but one wasn't totally fluent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Had an awesome experience in Nepal thanks to Amanda, Chhiring, Pratikshya, and Rasheev. (sp?) We were met at the airport, brought to our hotel and after a short rest, met by Amanda and the guides and briefed on the whole trip. The trekking was full of amazing views and the city tours were informative and fascinating.

Our guide Doris in Sao Paulo for both the Avenida Paulista and Centro tours was great. She was really informative and friendly. We would encourage people to walk in the centro area, if the police presence is maintained, because it is very interesting. We didn't feel it was any more dangerous than San Francisco.
In Bonito and the Pantanal our guide was Miguel Aguilar. He was absolutely brilliant. He was really knowledgeable and very friendly. He also took great photographs that he shared with us. He is quadrilingual - Spanish, English, French and Portuguese, so I would definitely recommend that you use him for other guests to the area.
Our driver in the same area was Gerson. He was really good, drove very safely and was also great at spotting wildlife.

We loved all the activities we did in Bonito and the Pantanal. Posuada Aguape is a really great place, with fantastic staff and delicious food.

João contacted both of us once or twice daily on Whats App. He sent a schedule for the next day on the prior evening. All communication was detailed and very helpful. Any questions we had were answered quickly. We were never without support, if we needed it. As it was, everyone in the schedule was on time, completed their roles very professionally and went above and beyond our expectations! "Pepe" picked us up from the airport and was our driver and tour guide for the first part of our trip. Ivo carried on with driving for the next couple days and finally Sandre (sp) drove us back to the airport. All drivers were excellent as they provided comprehensive information on each place that we passed or stopped at. Without their expertise we would be looking at places and have no real understanding of the history or what we were seeing and experiencing. A big thanks goes to all three!

We took walking tours with Margareta (sp), Bernardo and Daniel. We learned of history, architecture, culture, politics and social norms. All guides were very well educated and readily shared their knowledge and enthusiasm for their local areas. We came away inspired and awed by how much we had learned! We recommend that everyone who goes to Portugal tries to get a walking tour with one of these guides!

We had two winery tours and 3 tastings from which we learned a lot about the individual winery and we developed an appreciation for the excellent wines and ports in Portugal. Another truly wonderful experience!

Our hotels were all wonderful and unique in their styles and architecture. João picked excellent places to stay and recommended wonderful restaurants close by. Every detail was anticipated and planned for by João.

We rented a car for 3 days and both the pick up and return was smooth and had wonderful service. The vehicle was so much better than anything we expected to find as a rental! Thanks to Marta who was especially wonderful! Everyone assured us that driving in Portugal was easy and we found it to be true. Of course we did not challenge rush hour in Lisbon!

We hope that we did not miss thanking anyone for their excellent services for indeed everyone did an excellent job! The people of Portugal were kind, courteous and we highly recommend having João and the whole team set up your vacation experience! Thank you!

We had 3 nights in Lisbon, 3 in Porto, 2 in Evora and 1 in Cascais. We travelled to Sintra and toured the Pena Palace and Park, Obidos, and their walled medieval town, Nazare, Porto with a walking tour and a tour of Sandeman Winery, Douro Valley and Quinta da Pacheca (both restaurant and winery), Coimbra, Fatima, Evora (walking tour).

Epic road trip, 4275KM from Oslo to Bodo. Mathia was very enthusiastic in the planning phase and very amenble to changing plans as the inital plan had far less driving but we were keen to see as much of Norway as possible and our kids travel well. First hotel and car hire were a short walk from the station so very convenient. Thon Opera let us check in early so we had a great day (in sun) exploring Oslo. Car hire was all organised by Mathia. Two nights in a fishing cabin in Aurland and the scenery was spectacular. Vking village was much better than I was expecting as did not feel like a tourist trap 'gimmicky show' but a village occupied by people clearly knowlegable and enthusiastic about Vikings! The cruise was also great and very cold! Then onto Loen. Accommodation was the most basic I think we had but was ok. We eat at the top pf the mountain in the restuarant. Views were incredible, ambience great (Very very quiet as we were out of season) and the food great. Onto Alesund and the best hotel we stayed at Brosundet. Lovely walk up to the viewing platform overlooking the city. If the sauna had been operational the morning we were due to leave that would have been perfect! Then onto Andalsnes and a hotel with great views. Another fantastic meal on top of the mountain with excellent food. Then onto Trondheim. Hotel had been awarded the best breakfast in Norway for multiple years in a row and it was very good! Trondheim woudl have been better in sunshine but it was grey, raining and cold but we found a great coffee (Norway seems a tricky place if you love your coffee!!) Then a very long drive up to Bronnoysund which was very beautiful. The hut we stayed in was good and overlooked a fishing farm and we had two nights here. We were able to hike through the hole in the mountain which was closed for work but the workmen let us through! Another advantage of being out of season! That day was very sunny and ended with an amazing sunset and the Northern Lights! The final longest drive was up to Bodo. We passed into the arctic circle, the landscapes were varied and beautiful. The arctic cafe was closed (Again out of season!) and the final accomodation was ok but we were again in rain and cold with no views of the spectacular scenery. Last day we flew back to Oslo and had a great day in the sun lazing in Olivia's, the italian restaurant on the dock. It was a perfectly organised trip and although this length of driving is not for everyone we cetainly enjoyed it. Mathia was in contact throughout, offering suggestions. 10/10 for enthusiasm. Thanks!

This was our first trip for my wife and I to Morocco, and it was amazing. Our driver Faisal was fantastic! He was pleasant throughout despite the long drives, was able to communicate easily in English, had a great sense of humor, and good knowledge base throughout the journey. Faisal even helped us out with some bargaining for purchases! We started in Marrakech, then travelled to Eit Ben Haddou, the Merzouga desert, Fes, Chefchauen, Rabat, and home via Casablanca. Highlights of the trip included knowledgable guides in Marrakech, Fes and Rabat for the souks and landmarks; a most memorable Tagine cooking class in Marrakech; an amazing 4-hour sunset camel ride in the Sahara desert, pottery making and tile tour in Fes; and so much more…. The accommodations in Riads, as well as in a tent in Merzouga were quite nice overall. Will definitely be using KimKim in the future!

Hotel Reviews

Riad Pachavana

Marrakech

Far from the souk. Leak in the ceiling in the bathroom.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Too far from the Souk

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ceiling leaked, shower terrible, shredded old towels

Riad Ksar Ighnda

Ait Benhaddou

Quiet and peaceful, clean, great buffet dinner

Tiziri Luxury Camp

Merzouga

Given the fact that it is in the middle of the Sahara desert, this was a wonderful way to spend two nights. Nightly local musicians, great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Riad Salam Fes

Fes

Beautiful Riad - close to everything. Great food

Lina Ryad & Spa

Chefchaouen

In the Medina - close to everything. Great views from the terrace

Riad Kalaa

Rabat

Noisy location, AC did not work well

Activity Reviews

Indulge in a Three-Hour Cooking Experience at La Maison Arabe

Marrakesh

Fun, friendly staff, let you do all the cooking in a Tagine. Food was excellent!

Unique Journey from Ait Benhaddou to the Enchanting Merzouga Desert

Morocco

A must! Highlight of our trip

Quality of Experience

Food

Look

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Booking was a breeze and keeping up communication with changing plans was easy. We had a really great trip and our local guides were lovely.

Great tour of Morocco’s varied landscapes and cities. Sallam was an excellent driver, guide and in house historian. He made an extra effort to help us understand and appreciate Berber history and culture and Islamic traditions and practices. Morocco is a very welcoming country for Americans but Sallam is well known in his own right and everyone was happy to see him and this was extended to us. Thanks to Saede for his fabulous tour of Fez and the Medina. Plan on bringing an empty suitcase because it hard to resist all of the wonderful handmade crafts, rugs and leather goods!

The trip was outstanding, the planning, Organization. Visits, guides, tours, hotel and flight, recommendations…everything was perfect. Thanks to Cami who is tireless and would immediately reply to my queries and whatever concerns I had. Local guides were wonderful in each location were wonderful. Ana Santos, Cami’s representative and my guide in Manila was exceptional. There was not a single glitch, nor delay nor any problem.
Thank you Cami

Hotel Reviews

The Marison Hotel

Legazpi

Stayed only one night. The hotel is very central and comfortable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu

Cebu City

Very comfortable and clean . Has all the modern amenities. Staff very helpful and attentive

Authenticity & Character

Very modern

Location

Not central you need a car to visit

Staff

Very helpful zndxattentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Extremely clean

Bayleaf Intramuros

Metro Manila

Very central in Intramuros, walking distance to the touristic sites. Staff extremely helpful and attentive, good breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

In the heart of Intramuros the historical center of Manila

Staff

Very helpful and attentive

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable pillows and bed

Coco Grove Beach Resort

Wonderful resort in Siquijor, the grounds, the rooms, comfort, staff, the beauty of the place is outstanding.

Authenticity & Character

Location

I did not leave the resort as it was my R&R before starting my Philippines escapade

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Elysia Beach Resort

Donsol

Lovely hotel and nice location on a beautiful beach. However it is a bit neglected and needs an overhaul . The AC is very noisy and old. However it is comfortable with a beautiful swimming pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Staff is wonderful and very attentive and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa

Wonderful and comfortable hotel. Near a shopping mall and restaurants in the area. Very comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The Funny Lion El Nido

El Nido

Lovely hotel in the center of El Nido and walking distance from the market and the center. The staff is amazing and very helpful. It is clean and comfortable

Authenticity & Character

Very original and modern

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Two Seasons Coron Bayside Hotel

Coron Town

Lovely hotel in the heart of Coron with a beautiful pool and view esp during sunset. Extremely comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Walking distance to the center but preferable using a tricycle because the road is not good

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Belmont Hotel Manila

Pasay City

Wonderful hotel near the airport. Great location if you want to he near the airport. Excellent breakfast, comfortable bed and pillows. A practical but very busy hotel. Walking distance from a shopping center and surrounded by variety of restaurants

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Manila Day Tour

Philippines

Excellent tour thanks to Ana Santos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our family had a really amazing trip to Chile. Angel our tour guide was very knowledgeable and was very responsive. We had a packed trip and being a long country we had quite a bit of travel to do. Our trip to Rapa Nui was once in a lifetime one. Angel had chosen good hotels for us, and the tour guides he had arranged were all excellent. We have always been pleased with Kimkim(We used them in the past for Peru) and this time around too they did not disappoint us. We will definitely be using Kimkim again for our next adventures. However if you are going to Chile, Angel is your man!!!

Morocco was always a country I wanted to visit but, didn’t know where to start planning for a trip to a country so full of amazing places to see. I didn’t want to do the same things most tourist do, and I didn’t want to go with all the tourist info. expecting to see every single thing others see. I wanted to have this feeling of visiting a country I knew nothing about and be amazed with everything I see. Ali from Original Travels helped me get exactly that. He designed a trip where I was able to experience a bit of many places and I can not be more grateful to him. Everything flowed so well, and our guide/driver Ayoub just made it perfect. He was knowledgeable, attentive and on time. I didn’t have many extra requests but he always reminded me to let him know if I needed to stop at a certain place or if I needed extra time to explore. He became a friend and will miss the jokes and the interesting conversations about his country and culture. Our accommodations were incredible and the food at family restaurants while traveling from one city to another was just so good! Every place I visited had an impression on me I will never forget. People in Morocco are one of the nicest and respectful people I’ve know and I will be back. Hope Original Travels is still around when it happens because my trip with them was simply perfect. Thank you Ali, Ayoub, city guides and everyone in every Riad, tourist site, rest., cafe that welcomed us so kindly to Morocco. See you guys soon!❤️

Great trip, our trip planners were amazing! Very custom experience, and they helped us after hours and weekends with last minute flight cancellations, weather issues, etc. Cannot speak highly enough!

Our trip to Norway exceeded all our expectations! Mathia was great to work with, from working out our itinerary and throughout our trip! We spent the first night in Oslo and explored the city for a day, then flew to Narvik and were able to witness the northern lights twice!! Our snowshoeing adventure was beautiful, and our guide Hakon was wonderful! We also really enjoyed our dogsledding trip. Next we went to Tromso, where we visited Polaria, went on a fjord cruise, and then visited the Sami reindeer farm, where we fed the reindeer and slept overnight in a lavvu. Norway is a beautiful country, and March was a great time to visit.